BDR MUTINY

Mutiny loss colossal

The manifold crises stemming from the Pilkhana mutiny of 2009 are making a big dent in the government coffers.
Over the past two years, the government had to spend around Tk 200 crore on some 6,000 accused mutineers without getting any service from them.
As per the rules, the authorities must keep paying the detained accused half their monthly salary and full benefits until conviction.
According to a rough estimate, around Tk 88 crore has been spent to pay for salary of the detained border troops, Tk 81 crore on their rations and Tk 46 crore on house rent, healthcare and other allowances, sources said.
On February 25-26 in 2009, jawans took over the then Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) Pilkhana headquarters in the capital and killed at least 74 people including 57 army officers deputed to BDR.
Huge amounts of arms and ammunition and properties of the paramilitary force were damaged during the mutiny that spread to other border guard units across the country.
The carnage pushed the authorities to undertake massive structural and legal reforms in the force and change its name, flag and uniform.
At least 6,052 personnel of 57 former BDR units were made accused in 57 mutiny cases. So far, 994 people in 26 cases have been convicted.
To try 824 jawans accused in the carnage case, the government has built a new court building in Old Dhaka at a cost of around Tk 1.5 crore.
Accommodating thousands of accused and making arrangements for their commute to courts too entail a huge expenditure.
Besides, the government, army and BGB have spent about Tk 11 crore in compensation to the mutiny victims' families.
Families of the 57 slain army officers have received Tk 15.50 lakh each.
Of the officers, 40 had served at least 18 years in the army and been already granted plots at Mirpur DOHS before the disaster befell.
For families of the other 17 officers -- who had been in the service for less than 18 years -- the army has allotted two 1,100 sq ft flats apiece in the same area.
Families of 34 officers affected by the mutiny somehow or other have been donated Tk 5 lakh and Tk 25,000 by the army and BGB.